I went to KL Alternative Book Fest (KLAB) on my study week and I never regret it. The fantastic alternative book feast for bibliophile or anyone who loves book is the place i knew Emily Fister, a friendly and pretty Canadian. Atikah and I were delighted to know Emily since she was standing in front one of the booth and the banner says 'Against S114A Evidence Act'! Well the issue here is not S114A but we were interested to know more from a Mat Salleh who is concern about our law.
She is doing intern ship in Malaysia for International Centre for Journalism (ICJ) and we chit chatted for almost half an hour and it feels like we have known each other forever! Hah and later she wanted to interview me because she is interested in Tudung or Hijab as it were pronounce then. Ahem. I try my best to answer her questions in email since we could not meet and snap picture of myself wearing various fashion of tudung. Her blog is cool and she name it Emalaysia since the posting were all about about her travel experience in Malaysia. She gained so much insight of our country and one of it where she went to Cameron Highland and the local Imam gave them Quran. Pretty much of other good things experience by Emily despite of the pervert guy offering them lap dance or following them from behind. Umm.
I really hope we can meet Emily before she went back to Canada. So, here is her posting with my pictures in it. Ahem. and I love her writing style!! Portmanteau afficianado: Emalaysia!! Do visit Emily's blog by clicking here.
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KLoset: Hijab fashion with Hannan
It’s 7:29 p.m. at KLCC Park. The city is filled with hunger and anticipation as Malays sit patiently with their take-away containers, eyeing the towering Maxis clock.
7:30 p.m.
Let the feast begin.
Ramadan in Malaysia is equivalent to the lingering, contagious feeling of Christmas in Canada. There’s a certain joy that overcomes Kuala Lumpur as dusk hits – night markets blossom, mosques erupt into song, and friends chat late into the night.
Starting on August 19th, the week-long celebration of Hari Raya marks the end of fasting. Before heading off to Singapore (for an encore. Love it or hate it, I think I cleansed my KL lungs) and Thailand, I’m hoping to get a taste of the festivities with some of the great Muslim friends we’ve made here.
One of these friends is also quite the fashionista.
Hannan gives the camera some tudung ‘tude
I first met Hannan when I was working the KL Alternative Book Fair back in June. A bubbly student in her final year of an Honors Bachelor of Law at Universiti Teknologi MARA in Shah Alam, Hannan was kind enough to talk tudung (Malay for hijab) fashion. Even though we couldn’t meet up in person, she snapped a couple webcam pics of her own style – a frenzy of patterns paired with classic black.
What is the significance of the hijab to you and when did you first start wearing it?
I started wearing hijab when I was 13 years old. At the age of 13, I wore hijab because my mother told me to do so since she said it is compulsory for female Muslims. But when I grew older and gained more knowledge, I realized female Muslims have to wear hijab not just because it is compulsory, it is to protect our dignity and from the evil intention of men. Islam really protects the women, as we were told to cover our body except our hand and face. The cloth must be loose. Islam appreciates the female very much and we are special. Covering ourselves save us from many bad things. When I wear hijab, I feel safer and more confident and it does help me to improve my attitude.
Is there a uniquely Malaysian way of wearing the hijab?
Malaysians have many fashions of wearing the hijab. Sometimes I feel like calling it an evolution because I enjoyed watching the fashions evolved and the markets changed according to it. But in a serious note, it is acceptable as long as it met the Islamic guideline I’ve mentioned in the first question.
Yuna is a very edgy Malay pop star. How do you think she (or other stars) rocks the hijab?
Yuna has her own fashion and as long as her style is according to the Islamic guideline, she can rock it! I also love to mention Wardina Safiyyah, Dian Pelangi and Hana Tajima as the stars that look beautiful in their own fashions and [are] icons to other female Muslims.
Malay pop star Yuna reinvents tudung fashion and makes huge impressions on American record execs
What are you looking forward to most this Ramadan?
I love Ramadan because it is a month full of blessing. Any good deeds we’ve done will be rewarded more than in other months. I look forward to making more good deeds and I hope I can really fast. It means that to not only restrain myself from eating and drinking, but also from any evil thought, jealousy, hatred, bad mouthing people and other bad attitudes. Ramadan is also a month of love and this is the time where we will strengthen the bonding with family and friends. It means to help each other and love boundlessly. Besides, if we can really work hard to achieve the real target in Ramadan, which it to purify ourselves, the day of celebration after Ramadan (or ‘Hari Raya Aidilfitri’) will be very meaningful and fun!
Selamat Hari Raya!
The next couple weeks are going to be, as the eloquent Jay & ‘Ye might say… “cray.” With work winding down and travels on the horizon, I’m going to try and write up a few things before taking off to Bangkok on the 24th. It’s our last official week in KL until we head home… and is it ever bittersweet.
Last night, we ordered Canadian Pizza (which only exists in Southeast Asia. It’s pizza, but it sure as heck ain’t Canadian. Unless you count specialities like “Greek” or “Tandoori Chicken” ‘zas to be of a Canadian nature) to enjoy the irony, but we’ve still got much more to feast our eyes on here (*ahem* elephant adventures and Full Moon partying).
Until the next update… here’s a list of procrastinated ends and odds:
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